Big freeze ahead for Latvia

Lag those pipes and darn those socks, because according to weather forecasters Latvia is about to head into the chiller.

On Wednesday morning the temperature in the Vidzeme region reached -20 degrees Celsius. A similar frost in some places is also expected on Thursday morning, but on Friday there could be even lower air temperatures.

The cold wave in Latvia will continue the next week when the temperature drops below -25 degrees, and in places may even drop below -30 degrees. In these circumstances, pupils of all ages may stay home and not go to school, if their parents so decide.

Cabinet regulations stipulate that children from the age of 12 years should not attend an educational establishment if the temperature is lower than -20 degrees and children from the age of 13 when the air temperature is lower than -25 degrees.

But homeowners should also take extra care as they turn up their heating - particularly cold spells in Latvia are usually accompanied by a corresponding rise in house fires.